Building record WLW 154 - The Woodlands

The Woodlands is a substantial timber-framed country house of circa 1600 that retains part of its late-14th or early-15th century predecessor. Its layout has altered little since an inventory of 1700 recorded the contents of its various rooms, and the building is of special historic interest. The well documented property was a modest farm of 41 acres in 1842, but belonged to affluent merchants and yeoman in the 16th century. In 1601 it was inherited at the age of 21 by a gentleman, Thomas Rampley, who was the second most wealthy individual in the parish in 1639, and he probably built the eastern wing soon afterwards (although it may be slightly older). The original layout of this structure is unusual, appearing to possess both a crosspassage and an exceptionally early lobby entrance, and it may represent a rare lodging range that belonged to an earlier hall on the north. Any such hall was soon replaced by the present kitchen wing to which a bake-house was quickly added, and the surviving total of 7 fireplaces was recorded in the Hearth Tax return of 1662. Later in the 17th century the property was occupied by an exiled Presbyterian minister, John Salkeld, who was ejected from his living and imprisoned after the Restoration. The house retains an impressive array of leaded-light casement windows, architraves and other features inserted as part of a major late-18th century refurbishment, having largely escaped the usual over-restoration of the 20th century. As a result, much of its framing remains concealed by early plaster that is likely to have preserved fragile 17th century decoration such as wall paintings to augment the fine original ovolomoulded window and arched fireplace currently exposed (S1).